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Snacking Around the World

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Snacking Around the World

When planning a trip to Walt Disney World, you hear a lot about the restaurants you can’t miss and the how important Advanced Dining Reservations are, but you don’t hear a lot about what to snack on in between those meals. If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, snack credits are available in all of the packages. So, what are some of the best snacks around Walt Disney World? What can you use your snack credits on?

Here are some of my favorites:

Cupcakes
Disney has some of the most decadent cupcakes. Stop by Starring Rolls at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park for some of the best. Piled high with frosting and toppings, the cake is moist and there is no shortage of flavor in these baked goods!

Cupcakes

Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich
This has got to be my favorite way to use of snack credit! You can find these in the Magic Kingdom (Main Street Bakery or Sleepy Hollow in Liberty Square), and they are massive. They take two large cookies and place three large scoops of fresh vanilla ice cream in between them. Wow! This is a great snack to share with others. You’ll need to eat it quickly though — the ice cream melts fast!

Dole Whip
Ah, the infamous dole whip. I’ve been traveling to Disney for years, but managed to skip over Aloha Isle in Adventure Land until just last year. I wish I had known about it much sooner! This is a great snack on a hot Florida day. Aloha Isle serves pineapple ice cream (known as dole whip), citrus flavored ice cream, and your standard vanilla. I suggest the dole whip float – pineapple ice cream over pineapple juice. Yum!

 

Mickey Premium Bar
Sometimes there isn’t anything better than a good ‘ole Mickey ice cream bar. The chocolate on the outside is rich and flavorful and the vanilla ice cream inside just oozes out. It’s sweet and simple!

Pastries from Main Street Bakery
While strolling down Main Street USA, the smell of fresh cinnamon buns and chocolate chip cookies will hit you right in the face – hard! Meander on in and you’ll find an array of tasty treats. They’re often so large that they almost require sharing, so this is a really great use of a snack credit, especially for breakfast!

World Showcase Treats
During the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot, you can use snack credits around the World Showcase, sampling food from the festival booths. But you don’t have to wait for the Food & Wine Festival — many of the countries have treats available year-round. My favorite spot is in France. They have really, really delicious crepes!

Crepes

Goofy’s Candy Co.
It can be hard to plan out how you’re going to use all your snack credits, so if you have a few left at the end of your vacation, stop by Goofy’s Candy Co. at Downtown Disney. Here, you can customize your own snack and take it home with you! Do you want a pretzel dipped in white chocolate with some sprinkles and M&Ms on top? Or maybe an oreo dipped in chocolate and then covered in marshmallows? Done! The possibilities are endless!

These are just a few of my favorite snacks around the World. How do you use snack credits? What do you think is the best use of a snack credit? Let me know on Twitter at @A_Leo!

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Snacking Around the World

Dining Tips and Tricks for Parties Larger than 8

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Dining Tips and Tricks for Parties Larger than 8

On our last family vacation, it was a multi-generational vacation involving kids, parents, cousins, and even a Grandma!  Having nine people in our party really made things interesting when it came to dining, so I thought I would share some of the tips and tricks that I discovered when helping to plan our vacation.

First, a little background.  We were staying at Bay Lake Tower using our DVC membership, and because of the size of our party, we decided against the Disney Dining Plan because of the cost.  However, we did want to incorporate some table service reservations into our vacation.  So what to do?

  1. The first thing we decided on doing really early on was to take advantage of getting a Tables In Wonderland card.  We originally planned on three table service, and while there, we added a fourth reservation.  Knowing we were going to have nine people in our reservation, we knew that by using the TiW card, we would save 20% off all of our meals (and alcohol, too!)  While the TiW card comes with an 18% gratuity automatically added in, and a pricetag of $75 for Annual Passholders (Florida residents can get the card for $100 if they don’t have an AP), we were going to be getting the automatic gratuity anyway because of our party size, and by doing a little simple math, we knew that we would be making the cost of the card on our first reservation!
  2. In the past, I always used a Disney TA to help with my reservations, but this year I made them all online (except the one we added while there, I made that by phone from our resort).  When making them online, they did indicate that it was possible that we would have to be seated at two tables because of our party size, but I knew that the Cast Members work really hard to try and avoid that — we didn’t have any issues with any of our reservations because of the size of the party.
  3. In our party, one of our group had dietary concerns that needed addressing.  I took great care to make sure that I notified the Disney about this, and when we got to the restaurant for our meal, the chef at each restaurant came out and talked with us, and showed us what would be appropriate based on our restrictions.  Disney does a great job with this, and if made us feel good knowing that they were looking out for us and the concerns we had with our diet.
  4. The key to all planning — whether it be for a small family vacation of three, or a big multi-generational family vacation — is communication.  That is no different when you are making big dining reservations.  Find out what you all are interested in.  Look for restaurants that will work for as many people as possible, and remember, it’s everyone’s vacation, so be prepared to compromise when needed.

I hope that these tips will help you when you are making reservations at a Disney restaurant for large parties.  Did I leave off any tips that you have come across?  If so, please leave me some comments so that I can file those tips in my memory banks!

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Dining Tips and Tricks for Parties Larger than 8

Get with the program: Disney College Program

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Get with the program: Disney College Program

Many of the millions of yearly visitors to Walt Disney World Resort like to think of their trip to Disney as coming home.  Disney loves that.  They call you guests as if Lumiere were about to serve you in Beast’s Castle, but they want you to feel like family, as if this is where you belong. It’s all part of the magic.

But for some of us, the idea that Walt Disney World is home isn’t just part of a story, it’s true.  For 30 years now, the Disney College Program has been giving wayward college students a home and a chance to live in the magic.

That probably sounds cheesy and if you knew me, it would seem even stranger.  But I believe that Walt Disney World is truly a place of magic, or it can be if you’re willing to open your heart. Most of the people who have never been think of it as just another theme park like Six Flags, Universal or –to an extent— even Disneyland.  But something happens to you on that ride in on the Magical Express bus, when the narrator says “Welcome home.” you cease to exist in the world outside.  When you get off the bus you’re in a place where you can forget your troubles and simply be happy.

They sell you on the College Program with promises of a better resume and job opportunities.  But no one joins the Program for job recommendations.  You go because you want to be a part of Disney.

It’s difficult to describe life there.  You spend half your time working and the other half… living.  New people, new friends, new cultures… it’s 10 years of experiences in a bottle.  And yes, there are the Parks.  Imagine getting done with your work day and immediately riding Space Mountain.  Imagine taking a break from your 8 hour day to watch Illuminations.   Imagine getting paid to introduce a 4 year old girl to Mickey Mouse.  If the smile on her face doesn’t make you believe there’s magic in the world, nothing will.

I was a monorail pilot for a little while.  I take pride in knowing only a handful of people ever get to drive those wonderful trains, and I was one of them.  There’s nothing that compares.  At the end of a long night working EPCOT, I would board the train bound for the TTC.  Alone in the night, I would listen to the queue.  “Por favor.  Mantenganse alejando de las puertas.” Oh how those words make me smile.

The next time you see my Monorail Pink, tell her I said hello.

The College Program wasn’t a perfect situation.  I was broke.  There were fights with roommates and friends.  And I saw behind the curtain, where the wizard is just a man speaking into a microphone.  But through it all, there was a sense of wonder.

I’m not sure you’re able to appreciate it at the time, but it’s a gift.  Life in Walt Disney World was a once in a lifetime experience.  I’ve spent the last decade trying to recreate it and nothing comes close. The real world doesn’t compare. The air isn’t nearly as rare. The food isn’t as good.  And no one plays Hapa Duniani as I’m walking through the forest. It doesn’t take long to figure out that this is not where you belong.

It’s not until I go back to Florida for a few days and I step off that bus… that’s when I know I’m home.

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Get with the program: Disney College Program

Top 10 Extreme Rides at Walt Disney World

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Rock n Roller Coaster
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

With four theme parks and two water parks, thrill seekers are sure to find their happy place at Walt Disney World. Let’s take a look at 10 of the resort’s top extreme rides.

MAGIC KINGDOM:
Space Mountain—This classic Magic Kingdom coaster is an all-time fan favorite. Climb the 180-foot mountain then blast off into deep, dark space through twists and turns and past shooting stars and black holes. Two separate tracks, the Alpha and the Omega, mirror each other as they hurl rocket ships through the cosmos at 28 miles per hour. *Height requirement: 44 inches*

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad—Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was originally designed to be The Western River Expedition, a boat ride through the American West with hiking trails and pack mules featuring a runaway mine train and housed in a large complex called Thunder Mesa. Though Walt Disney World did receive its own attraction in 1980, Big Thunder Mountain was installed at Disneyland first in 1979. The “wildest ride in the wilderness” reaches speeds of 25-30 mph, matching that of the monorail, as it rumbles past actual gold mining tools on two-and-a-half acres of desert canyons and caverns. *Height reqirement: 40 inches*

ANIMAL KINGDOM:
Expedition Everest—Expedition Everest—Legend of the Forbidden Mountain adds a second “wienie” to Animal Kingdom Park with its 199-foot “snow”-covered mountain. A runaway tea train careens forward and backward around and through this breathtaking Himalayan Mountain peak in effort to escape the mountain’s guardian: the Yeti. The phenomenal Audio-animatronic beast stands more than 18 feet tall and has an arm thrust equivalent to the force of a 747 jumbo jet. *Height requirement: 44 inches*

Dinosaur!—Dinosaur! is housed inside the Dino Institute, a large building toward the rear of DinoLand, USA. Dino Sue, a 40-foot long, 20-foot high exact replica of the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever unearthed, stands charge by the entrance. Once you eek past her, proceed through the ride queue, strap into your Time Rover and hang on as you travel back in time to fetch a dinosaur before it and you become extinct. *Height requirement: 40 inches*

Dinosaur!

EPCOT:
Mission Space—Designed in consultation with 25 NASA experts and five astronauts, Mission Space is a flight training simulator that allows passengers to experience space travel without ever leaving Earth. Each team member has a specific role in commandeering the cosmic vessel. Passengers may choose their intensity level: Green for a milder ride and Orange for full throttle. *Height requirement: 44 inches*

Test Track—Ever wonder how a car is tested before it reaches your driveway? Epcot’s Test Track takes six Guests per vehicle through a series of quality tests that cars undergo before being released for sale to the public. Test braking systems, environmental factors and crash through barriers…er, um, maybe stop before you collide. Take a lap around the track outside at 65 mph, the fastest ride at Walt Disney World, before exiting to a showroom floor. *Height requirement: 40 inches*

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS:
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror—According to legend, the once glamorous Hollywood Hotel hosted stars of the silver screen during Hollywood’s Golden Age. But then on Halloween night, 1939, a violent storm struck the building, whisking 5 unfortunate souls “beyond the fifth dimension.” The hotel was left untouched after that disastrous eve. Guests board the “fright elevator,” which goes up, then down, then maybe up again…or down. Random drops depart the 13th floor and are determined by the Tower itself. Now if that doesn’t spook you, I don’t know what will! *Height requirement: 40 inches*

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith—A tour of G-Force Record Studio is cut short when the band Aerosmith takes off for a show. They take Guests with them, though, in a super stretch limo. Each “car” pumps 32,000 watts of onboard audio through a 125 speaker, 24 sub-woofer sound system and accelerates from a zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds with the force of a supersonic F-14. Three inversions offer a unique view of Los Angeles: upside-down! *Height requirement: 48 inches* 

TYPHOON LAGOON:
Crush ‘n’ Gusher—The theme parks aren’t the only place to find thrill rides at Walt Disney World Resort. Head on over to Typhoon Lagoon for the white knuckle excitement of Crush ‘n’ Gusher. This water coaster defies gravity as its powerful jets pump water at 1,350 gallons per minute, propelling Guests down and up 420 feet of slide. Hold tight to your inflatable raft as you twist and turn through the chutes at speeds reaching 30 feet per second. *Height requirement: 48 inches*

BLIZZARD BEACH:
Summit Plummet—Take the plunge! The 12-story, high-speed drop from the top of Mount Gushmore, that is. The ride towers 30 feet above its mountain base and is built to resemble a ski jump. Riders do not really fly off the jump, though they do catch some air. The 8-second zoom down the 360-foot flume sends riders slightly over vertical then straight down and through a short tunnel under the jump at 50-60 miles per hour. It’s so exhilarating many “skiers” jump right up, adjust their wedgies and take the chair lift right back to the top. *Height requirement: 48 inches*

Summit Plummet

Whew! Now that ought to get your blood pumping.

Rides to Avoid with Little Mr and Miss

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Rides to Avoid with Little Mr and Miss
Walt Disney World is so magical for little ones because they BELIEVE. Their joy is pure and simple; they have no doubt they are hugging Mickey or curtseying to a Disney princess. This very innocence that suspends reality and makes Winnie-the-Pooh real to children means that the proverbial monster-under-the bed is real also. In a place where Imagineers bring fantasy worlds to life, there are bound to be some attractions that spook small children.

There are some obvious attractions that should be avoided but there are also less obvious ones. Here’s my list of Walt Disney World attractions that upset some small children.

Magic Kingdom.

The Haunted Mansion. The Haunted Mansion’s 999 haunts may be happy but little kids may instead see ghosts, ghouls, skeletons, and special effects that cause a shiver to run up their spines on this dark ride.

Pirates of the Caribbean. Part of this boat ride takes place in the dark and there are some special effects that may unsettle sensitive children such as a wavy image of Davy Jones appearing on a waterfall and the cannon fire.

Snow White’s Scary Adventures. The name says it all. The Wicked Witch is a prevalent character throughout the ride. The Disney rumor mill is churning out the possibility that a new Snow White attraction will be built as part of the Fantasyland attraction. We’ll have to wait and see.

Stitch’s Great Escape! The shoulder harness that restricts movement and adds to a sense of foreboding is reason enough to skip this ride. The show takes place in the dark during Stitch’s Experiment 626 era; that is, before he is the cuddly alien you grow love at the end of Lilo & Stitch. There is a 40 inch height restriction so only older preschoolers would be able to experience the attraction.

Epcot

Ellen’s Energy Adventure. This approximately 45 minute attraction is a great way to cool off but the darkened theater and realistic looking, sounding, and moving dinosaurs should have parents reconsidering taking small children on this attraction.

Maelstrom. Guests explore the traditions and lore of Norway past on this boat ride. The trolls, giant polar bear, and a close encounter with the precipice of a waterfall may be a bit too intense for small children.

Soarin’. This ride is amazing and the long waits are a testament to its popularity. With a height requirement of 40”, younger preschoolers will not be able to ride this attraction. There is nothing overtly scary about this attraction unless your child has a fear of heights. Soarin’ has a rise of 40 feet and a very realistic sensation of hang-gliding that may be disconcerting to children.

Hollywood Studios

Studio Backlot Tour . This long attraction starts with loud special effects such as gunfire and concludes with a close encounter with an earthquake, explosions, and fire at Catastrophe Canyon that may be too much for young children.

The Great Movie Ride. This attraction takes guests down Hollywood’s memory lane with a look at how movie genres have evolved. A gangster scene with gunfire and a scene from the movie Alien may scare kids.

Sounds Dangerous–Starring Drew Carey. This attraction is open seasonally and may seem like a good place to cool off and rest your weary bones since the wait is typically short. However, most of the show takes place in complete darkness and features sounds that can be unnerving in the dark.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™. This ride has the feeling of free-fall, eerie elements, darkness and the word terror in the attraction name. Let’s get down to it – I’m scared to go on this ride with a 40” height requirement so I have to caution against it for taller preschoolers.

Animal Kingdom

DINOSAUR. I love this ride but my children aren’t ready for it yet. DINOSAUR is a very loud and intense experience. Not only is the ride itself very jerky but the fierce dinosaurs are very realistic.

It’s Tough to be a Bug! My son has a fear of insects so although my husband and I never missed this attraction pre-kids, we now avoid this entertaining show. Fake bees and spiders appear unexpectedly in this 3-D attraction and some little friends make a hasty exit at the conclusion of the show.

The thing with Walt Disney World is that it is a very personal experience. For every ride that is a fan favorite, you’ll find detractors. For every ride that kids love, you’ll find a few that shy away. As parents, we know our children best. If you think the ride may have elements that scare your kids, err on the side of caution and skip it. There’s always next trip.

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Rides to Avoid with Little Mr and Miss

Taking advantage of Disney’s on Site Childcare

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Taking advantage of Disney's on Site Childcare

Next time you plan a trip to Disney World, consider having a grown-up night out and leaving the kids with a sitter. You can hire an in-room sitter from several services in the area or you can use one of Disney’s on-site childcare centers.   A few weeks ago, I went down to Disney World with my oldest son, who is eight-years old. Since I was going to be meeting up with friends in the area one night, I made arrangements to drop him off at The Neverland Club in the Polynesian Resort, right on the Magic Kingdom monorail.  After showing him pictures of the club, which features rooms themed along the children’s classic tale Peter Pan, he was thrilled about going. In fact, he asked about it everyday of the trip.

Disney kids clubs are located at several of the deluxe resorts:  The Cub’s Den at the Wilderness Lodge,  Simba’s Cubhouse at Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Mouseketeer Club at the Grand Floridian, The Sandcastle Club at the Yacht and Beach Club, and The Never Land Club at the Polynesian.  You can drop off children ages 3 to 12 between the hours of 4:00 and midnight (some clubs open at 4:30).  Specially themed rooms, activities, crafts, games and meals are provided.  Children must be potty trained.  There’s a two hour minimum; cost is $11.50 per hour. You don’t need to be a Disney resort guest but reservations are recommended.

Taking advantage of Disney's on Site Childcare

The cast members at the kids clubs are great at finding activities your kids will like and making sure that kids get included in all the fun. My son liked being able to order from the “menu” that they give your child when he checks in and he enjoyed playing with another little boy as well as doing arts and crafts.   Like a lot of kids, he didn’t want to leave.  He’s already told me that he wants to take his little brother and sister with him next time.

Taking advantage of Disney's on Site Childcare

I think the kids’ clubs work best for people going out for a quick night, say two to three hours.  While they’re open until midnight, it’s hard to bring a tired, cranky kid back to your resort that late, so if you need longer hours or more flexible times (such as during the day), I recommend having an in-room sitter.  Similarly, in-room sitters are going to be more economical if you have more than two children.   Finally, while children as young as three are allowed in the kids’ clubs, I probably wouldn’t drop off a child younger than five since the toys and games all seem to be geared toward slightly older children.

To make a reservation for The Neverland  Club or other  Disney kids’ clubs, call 407-WDW-DINE.   Your time slot will be secured with a credit card.

Halloweentime at Disneyland Draws Crowds

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Halloweentime at Disneyland Draws Crowds

If you’re planning to visit Disneyland in the time approaching Halloween, be prepared to face the crowds. What used to be considered part of the off-season is now bringing in people due to the holiday decor and themed attractions.

Halloween at Disneyland began Friday, September 16 and ends Monday, October 31. This means the return of Haunted Mansion Holiday, which will run through the winter holiday season, Ghost Galaxy at Space Mountain, and my beloved pumpkin raisin muffins in Blue Ribbon Bakery on Main Street. The park is decked out with jack-o-lanterns and other Halloween decorations.

Also be aware that Mickey’s Halloween Party will begin Friday, September 30. Disneyland will be closing earlier due to these scheduled parties — Fridays, the park will close at 7PM; all other party weekdays, the park will close at 6PM. The full calendar for the Halloween parties can be found here. The Halloween Screams fireworks are only available for viewing during the Halloween parties.

Keep in mind that party attendees can gain access to the park three hours prior to the party, so crowds might grow as the day approaches closing time.

Tickets can still be purchased for Mickey’s Halloween Party. Be sure to get them soon to get the advanced ticket price!

Get Active with Chip&Co / Tips from the Disney Diva!

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Get Active with Chip&Co / Tips from the Disney Diva!So here you are… You’re sitting at your computer soaking up your daily dose of Disney Addiction (which we are grateful for, don’t get me wrong), wishing you could meet me (the Disney Diva) and and Chip cause we are just soooo cool…ok well maybe just me, The Diva. (ha!) Well, have I got an idea for you!

February 24-26th, 2012 RunDisney at Walt Disney World hosts its Princess Half Marathon Weekend. (Hey, I heard that GASP! Just wait a second and let me give you allll the information before you have a conniption fit) There are a FEW options for you for “races” you can participate in during the weekend. (read more about Run Disney from Chip & Co writer, Jenn HERE)

Royal Family Kids Races: (Feb. 25th, 2012 – 11:00am) Everybody wants to have healthy kids. So get them out and let them “train” with you for your race. Disney hosts races for: 12&  months and under – Diaper Dash for crawlers, 1-3 years old – 100m dash, 4-6 years old – 200m dash, & 7-8 years old – 400m dash. They also have a 1-mile fun run for kids 13-under (which you can run along with them). Each kid-racer gets a Disney Royal Family Kids’ Races T-shirt, Finisher medallion & Goody bag! You can register your favorite kid by clicking HERE. The 1 mile run is $25.00 and all other races are only $10.00. The races take place at The ESPN complex on Disney property.

Royal Family 5K Race: (Feb. 25th, 2012 – 7:00am)  A 5K is exactly 3.1 miles, and before you even ask, No! you DON’T have to be able to run the whole way. As a matter of fact, as long as you can walk faster than a 16-minute mile, you don’t have to run at all. This race course has you running through Epcot (you can see the race map HERE). And as you run/walk you will see LOTS of Disney characters (many of them EXCLUSIVELY available for pictures at Disney Races) and cast members cheering you on. This race also has a stroller division, so you can push your little princess or pirate along the course with you. All ages are eligible to participate in the race, but they must be able to complete the race on their own (unless they are in the stroller obviously).  As a part of your registration all participants get a 5K T-shirt (Unisex cut), Finisher medallion, Goody bag, Personalized bib (Must register by December 1, 2011 for name to appear on bib) & On-course and post-race refreshments. You can register by clicking HERE. The fee is $50.00 for the 5K, and $55.00 for the 5K stroller division (Ps. your little one gets their own medal too!)

Princess Half Marathon (Feb. 26th, 2012 – 5:45am) The BIG MAMA, 13.1 miles through Epcot AND Magic Kingdom! This is the race that I (the Disney Diva)  will be running. First off the Princess Half-Marathon is a WOMAN FOCUSED race!!! So gentlemen, you’ll have to opt for the Royal Family 5K instead. I have seen pictures from other people who have run this race and am SO excited about all the awesome characters along the race course. I saw a photo of  Prince Phillip, Prince Charming, Tarzan, Prince Naveen, and Flynn Ryder that you could stop and take a picture with. Can you say HUBBA HUBBA!! I also saw the “full cast” of many animated features as well as Cinderellas carriage. SQUEAL! Not to mention crossing something BIG off your “bucket list” and being able to do something JUST FOR YOURSELF for a change! Don’t think you can make it the whole way? Grab a friend and split the race in two with both of you doing 6.55 miles. You can register as an individual by clicking HERE. Registration costs between $140.00-$150.00 (depending on when you register) or you can register as a team by clicking HERE . Registration for the two-person group is between $280.00- $300.00 (depending on when you register). And what do you get as a part of that registration? Champion® Women’s Short-Sleeved Tech Shirt (Unisex cut available), Finisher medal (which are normally AWESOME!). Goody bag, Personalized bib (Must register by December 1, 2011 for name to appear on bib), On-course and post-race refreshment, & a Family Reunion Area with live entertainment and characters.

Get Active with Chip&Co / Tips from the Disney Diva!Get Active with Chip&Co / Tips from the Disney Diva!

So where do Chip & Co. and Tips from the Disney Diva come in? Well, we are sponsoring a “team”. This does NOT mean we all have to run together in a pack, or anything like that. It just means you’re declaring yourself “one of us” and you’ll get a t-shirt (and hopefully some other swag) from being “ON OUR TEAM”.  (and who doesn’t love a free t-shirt, answer me that!) You can be running the Half-Marathon OR the 5K to be on our team.

So now that you’re interested, how do you become “ONE OF US”? Well, first off you need to register for your race of choice and get yourself good and committed to this thing!! Then you can register to “be on our team”  http://tinyurl.com/696k3lq. We’d love for you to join our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/DisneyDivasInTraining  and let us encourage you while you train. This will also give you a chance to build “virtual friendships” with fellow team members, making the meet up WAY more fun! Not to mention we will be doing a TON of give-aways in the weeks leading up to the races. We encourage you to follow Jeff Galloway’s 21-week half-marathon training program for the Princess for those of you running the half, (its for beginning runners!) which would mean you’d START training on Oct 4th, 2011. So sign up soon!

And how will you be getting your SWAG you ask? Well you have two options…

First off you can join us at a “Meet Up”. On the “C&C and TffDD registration” page you will see a spot where it will ask you if you would prefer to do a meet up at Port Orleans (one of the host resorts) on Thursday, Feb. 24th from 6pm-7:30pm -OR- Friday, Feb. 25th from 6pm-7:30pm. This is BY FAR the Diva’s favorite option because hauling the shirts to the races on will be the OPPOSITE of fun for me. We will let you know closer to time when the meet-up has been scheduled.

The second is, obviously, is to meet up after the race has been completed in a designated location (Where we will be taking pictures anyway!) and let me give you your “SWAG” there.

We will be taking lots of pictures, and maybe even do a little UStream for those of you who can’t make it, but we’d REALLY love it if you could be on our team and encourage you to GET ACTIVE with us! We have had many awesome sponsors come forward (more from them later) and The Diva will be doing LIVE UPDATES from the race and meet up for Sorcerer Radio.

Keep an eye out for some Get Active! GIVEAWAYS leading up to the race date. Hope you’ll join us!

 

 

 

Does Living Near Disney Take Away From Some The Magic

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Does Living Near Disney Take Away From Some The Magic

Chicago – Winter – 1984 – It’s 5am, my sister and I are woken by our mother. We have a 9am flight from Chicago to Disney World. We’ve been waiting for this trip ever since our father booked it with the travel agent months before. We excitedly wait for the cab to take us to the airport. Then at the airport, we wait for the plane to depart. We say goodbye to the snow. While on the plane, my sister and I put on our Mickey hats. We are getting so excited. The anticipation is too much for us to handle. We finally land. The smell of the warm air is bringing back to the memories of the previous trips. We hop in the rent-a-car for Magic Kingdom. That last 35 minute drive takes forever. We see the Walt Disney World sign and we know we are home free. We park and finally make it to the gate and make a b-line to the Mad Tea Party (Tea Cups).

All this anticipation and travel excitement added to the magic of Disney. For months, all we talked about was our upcoming trip to Disney. I see this in my kids today.

So, I’m just wondering, for the kids that live near Disney and have an annual pass. Does this lack of anticipation and travel take away from the Disney magic? For me, a big part of the magic was the travel and just getting away from home.

My wife and I always planned on moving near Disney one day. Will doing so make us loose some of that Disney Magic?

>>Joe Principe

Creator of sharemickey.com, Moderator at reddit.com/r/disney, Partner at Signal Flow Music, Inc along with Disney Mousekteer, Ricky Luna, Husband, Dad, Tech Geek, DVC Member, Disney Nut! I have the best wife and kids! I’m the guy that won’t stop talking about Disney!

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Does Living Near Disney Take Away From Some The Magic

Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, where Disney IS school!

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Magical Mouse Schoolhouse
Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, where Disney IS school!

MAGICAL MOUSE SCHOOLHOUSE is a unique blog that plusses the homeschool experience and prompts home educators to think outside the textbook. Our bi-weekly posts expose teachable moments in Walt Disney entertainment, from the history of Walter Elias Disney to Audio-animatronics, from theme park attractions to Disney conservation efforts. Each article leaves readers creative ways to learn while they play when Disney IS school.

Here’s a sampling of what you might find:

  • Watch Dumbo and learn about aviation. Build a paper airplane with an elephant’s proportions. Discuss fuselage size and shape. Ask students if large wings (or ears) help or hinder flight.
  • Ride Disneyland’s Mad Tea Party. Stop the math frustration spinning in your child’s head and have a Mad Math Fractions Tea Party!
  • Observe Tinker Bell’s flight from a castle turret during Wishes Nighttime Spectacular fireworks at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in person or by Youtube video. Following instructions at the Science Buddies website, measure the intensity and duration of light produced by glow sticks.

Non-homeschoolers are welcome too! Supplement children’s schoolwork to keep kids from stagnating during summer break or holidays. Classroom teachers, enhance lesson plans or offer additional course work.

Stretch the boundaries of your home classroom!

Tiggerific Tuesday blog hop
Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

MAGICAL MOUSE SCHOOLHOUSE hosts the weekly blog hop, Tiggerific Tuesday, a linky social to network with fellow bloggers. We also run GIVEAWAYS on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, and we hop aboard the Magical Blogorail Yellow Line every 1st Friday.

For an additional learning experience and educational incentives, sign up for the monthly Earn Your E.A.R.S. (Enriching Academic Reward Series). Registration opens October 1, 2011. Click the link to learn more.

JAMES CAMERON TO BRING AVATAR TO LIFE AT DISNEY PARKS

By
Chip
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JAMES CAMERON TO BRING AVATAR TO LIFE AT DISNEY PARKS

Long-term agreement will bring AVATAR themed lands to Disney parks, with the first at Walt Disney World in Orlando

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide is joining forces with visionary filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of AVATAR to life at Disney parks. Through an exclusive agreement announced today by Disney, Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox, Disney will partner with Cameron and producing partner Jon Landau to create themed lands that will give theme park guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of AVATAR first hand. Disney plans to build the first AVATAR themed land at Walt Disney World, within the Animal Kingdom park.  With its emphasis on living in harmony with nature, Animal Kingdom is a natural fit for the AVATAR stories, which share the same philosophy. Construction is expected to begin by 2013.

“James Cameron is a groundbreaking filmmaker and gifted storyteller who shares our passion for creativity, technological innovation and delivering the best experience possible,” said Robert A. Iger, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “With this agreement, we have the extraordinary opportunity to combine James’ talent and vision with the imagination and expertise of Disney.”

“AVATAR created a world which audiences can discover again and again and now, through this incredible partnership with Disney, we’ll be able to bring Pandora to life like never before. With two new AVATAR films currently in development, we’ll have even more locations, characters and stories to explore,” said James Cameron.  ”I’m chomping at the bit to start work with Disney’s legendary Imagineers to bring our AVATAR universe to life.  Our goal is to go beyond current boundaries of technical innovation and experiential storytelling, and give park goers the chance to see, hear, and touch the world of AVATAR with an unprecedented sense of reality.”

The agreement announced today gives The Walt Disney Company exclusive global theme park rights to the AVATAR franchise and provides for additional AVATAR themed lands at other Disney parks. The other locations will be determined by Disney and its international theme park partners.  James Cameron, Jon Landau and their Lightstorm Entertainment group will serve as creative consultants on the projects and will partner with Walt Disney Imagineering in the design and development of the AVATAR themed lands.

“This exciting new venture combines the world of AVATAR with the enormous reach of Disney and the incomparable talent of Jim Cameron,” commented Fox Filmed Entertainment chairmen Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman.  “While Jim is bringing audiences further into Pandora with the next two chapters in the AVATAR motion picture saga, the theme park attraction will likewise bring a new dimension to the amazing universe he created.”

“AVATAR is a uniquely powerful franchise that has global appeal with audiences of all ages. Its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures, and strong themes of family and loyalty make it a perfect fit for Disney,” said Thomas O. Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We can’t wait to give our guests the ability to journey to Pandora and explore the incredible immersive world of AVATAR in person.”

In addition to setting a global box office record, AVATAR has been hailed as one of the most innovative and visually stunning movies ever produced. With its advanced motion capture and 3-D digital projection technologies developed by James Cameron and his team, moviegoers were able to connect with the world of AVATAR in new and engaging ways.

This new venture complements Walt Disney Parks & Resorts’ strategic efforts to continue to invest in its core theme park businesses around the world while simultaneously expanding into other parts of the family vacation business.

###

About Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts are where dreams come true. More than 50 years ago, Walt Disney created a new kind of entertainment families could experience together, immersed in detailed atmospheres and vibrant storytelling. His vision now includes a collection of five of the world’s leading family vacation destinations – Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, Calif.; Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Tokyo Disney Resort, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan; Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, France; and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, located on Lantau Island. A sixth resort, Shanghai Disney Resort, is currently under construction in Pudong New District, Shanghai. In addition, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts includes the world-class Disney Cruise Line; Disney Vacation Club; Adventures by Disney, a guided group vacation experience to some of the world’s most popular destinations; and Walt Disney Imagineering, which creates and designs all Disney parks, resorts and attractions.

About Fox Filmed Entertainment

One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world.  These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE:  Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Animation, Blue Sky Studios and Fox International Productions.

Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of our views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update these statements. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from actions taken by the Company as well as from developments beyond the Company’s control, including governmental actions and changes in domestic and global economic conditions. Additional factors are set forth in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 2, 2010 and subsequent reports.

 

 

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JAMES CAMERON TO BRING AVATAR TO LIFE AT DISNEY PARKS

Disney World Quick Tips – Enhance Your Disney Memories, Theme Your Photos

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Disney World Quick Tips – Enhance Your Disney Memories, Theme Your Photos

Lots of folks shoot hundreds of pictures on each visit to Walt Disney World. I’m even worse because I rarely take less than 1500 – 2000 shots every time. Rather than just taking pictures for the sake of taking them try to have a theme for each trip and carry it through for the entire vacation. Don’t become obsessed with your theme though at the expense of some wonderful but unrelated shots. I’ll outline just a few themes for you to try:

  • Since most folks travel as a family pick just one spot to have a family picture taken and take the same picture at the same spot on each and every vacation. This will let you see just how the kids have grown and how you and they have changed over the years. Just ask a passerby or a Cast Member to take the picture for you, I’ve never heard of anyone saying no that request. Make sure you pick a spot that will be there over the years such as Cinderella Castle or Spaceship Earth
  • This may sound a bit bizarre, but, take pictures of signs! I’ve done that before and the results are always fun. You can break it down further by picking Attractions, Resorts, Restaurants, etc.
  • Take pictures of Cast Members. Those folks are generally a bunch of HAMS and love to play around in front of the camera.
  • Try to get as many photos of birds and animals as you can. Epcot is a very fertile location for this theme and Disney’s Animal Kingdom is absolutely the best.
  • Make sure you get plenty of shots of each park Icon from different viewpoints.
  • Try to get some interesting architectural shots like the one above. Walt Disney World is a treasure trove of incredible architecture.
  • Last but certainly not least – Characters. This can be a bit time consuming but if you take the pictures during the time between the groups at meet and greets you can get some really good candid type stuff.

These are just a few of the themes you can try. Make it a part of your pre trip planning to discuss it with your family and pick the theme as a group and don’t limit yourselves to the ones I mentioned – be creative. The most important photo is, of course, the family shot because it will reward you with great memories year after year. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

Disney World Quick Tips – Enhance Your Disney Memories, Theme Your Photos
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